Nilgiri Spices

Bajal, Mangalore, Karnataka

Green tea is made from the top two leaves and buds of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, of the family Theaceace and the order Theales. Green tea is processed using either artisanal or modern methods. The tea plant is generally plucked every five to 10 days, depending on where it grows. After the tea leaves are plucked, they must be dried to prevent fermentation, which stops any enzyme activity that causes oxidation. Sun-drying, basket or charcoal firing, or pan-firing are common artisanal methods. Oven-drying, tumbling, or steaming are common modern methods. Dried to prevent too much oxidation from occurring that would turn the green leaves brown and alter their fresh-picked flavor. The quality of green tea depends first on using good tea leaves. The natural quality of the leaf, including color and aroma, must then be preserved during the manufacturing process to produce a good green tea. Though the health benefits of green tea have been known for centuries, recent research is providing concrete evidence of these benefits. Studies have shown that green tea can prevent cancer since it contains catechin, the major component of tea.

Brewing
Place about 2 grams of green tea in your cup
Pour boiling water that has been cooled to 81 to 87 C
Allow tea to steep for about 2-3 minutes, shortest times about 30 seconds
Do not add milk or sugar since this tea is enjoyed straight-up.
Note
1. Brewing green tea too hot or too long will result in a bitter
2. The container in which the tea is steeped or teapot should also be warmed beforehand so that the tea does not immediately cool down.

Benefits
1. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.
2. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.
3. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.
4. Green tea can kill bacteria, which improves dental health and lowers your risk of infection.
5. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
6. Green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.
7. Compounds in green tea can improve brain function and make you smarter.
8. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
9. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.
10. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer.
11. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

The highest grade of the finished Silver Needle(White Tea), Silver Needle will be fleshy, bright colored and covered with tiny white hairs. The shape should be very uniform, with no stems or leaves.There are two intact grayish white leaves that surround a silver bud covered with a silvery white down. No purple buds are allowed and the stems must not be too long or too short. Leaves damaged by wind, handling, insects or partially open are not used for Silver needle(White Tea). Amongst white teas this is the most expensive variety and the most prized as only top buds are used to produce the tea. Silver Needle(White Tea) tea is considered to be good for health, as it is extremely low in caffeine. Silver Needle(white tea) tea retains the high concentrations of catechins present in fresh tea leaves. When brewed, Silver Needle(white tea) give hardly any color and infuse a very delicate flavor into the water. Green tea is made from more mature tea leaves than white tea, and may be withered prior to steaming or firing.

Brewing
Place about 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons or 6-8 Buds in your cup.
Pour boiling water that has been cooled to 75 degrees Celsius
Stir (virtually all the leaves will sink)
Allow tea to steep for about 2-4 minutes
Do not add milk or sugar since this tea is enjoyed straight-up
Note : Do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted

Benefits
1. Health benefits of white tea include improvement in oral health. The presence of polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins help in inhibiting growth of various bacteria that may cause plaque formation.
2. White tea also helps in maintaining healthy and youthful skin. Use of white tea is recommended due to its antioxidant properties which help in quick repair and recovery of damaged skin. It is also beneficial in protecting skin against effects of ultraviolet light.
3. White tea provides relief to diabetic people from symptoms such as decrease plasma glucose levels, increase insulin secretion and excessive thirst (polydipsia). Intake of white tea also helps in losing weight.
4. Just like green tea, white tea may be beneficial in preventing cancer such as lung cancer. Research suggests that white tea is a potential anticancer, chemopreventive agent and its extract may induce apoptosis or cell death and may help in preventing new cell growth in lung cancer.
5.White tea contains polyphenols which helps in of neutralizing these free radicals making them less destructive to the body.
6. The flavonoids found white tea help decreasing the blood pressure. It also helps in improving dyslipidemia, endothelial function and inhibits low-density lipoprotein oxidation.
7. White tea has antibacterial properties which can protect our skin from bacteria and other germs.
8. Intake of white tea may prevent adipogenesis, the process of formation of fat cells and also known as adipogenesis and may control the life cycle of these fat cells called as adipocytes.
9. White tea is replete with antioxidants, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the anti-inflammatory properties of these antioxidants strengthen the connective tissue and help reduce allergies like dandruff or eczema.
10. The catechins play a mighty role here they reduce inflammation, and also reduce the risk of diseases linked to chronic inflammation.
11. White tea is a good source of antioxidants, and one of the best sources of catechins. This makes it one good food for improving memory, or even slowing memory decline.